TRENTON — The Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey announced plans today to increase its profile and participation in advance of the Nov. 5 election "to support candidates who have a strong record of standing up for women’s health."

By staffing phone banks, knocking on doors and using social media, the organization's leaders said they want to mobilize voters so they understand “women’s health is under attack across the country like never before, and it’s not just in states like Texas and North Carolina," said Ed Remsen, executive director.

The group will focus its attention on Christie's decision in 2010 to eliminate a $7.5 million annual grant to family planning clinics, including many run by Planned Parenthood chapters. Christie has said he cut the money to help close a budget deficit, and argued there were plenty of other health centers in the state that provide low-cost birth control services and health screenings.

Clinics directors later testified at legislative hearings that six of the 58 clinics that shared the funding closed their doors because they could not operate without the money.

“The bottom line is this—women’s health matters. And as the leading advocate for women’s health care in New Jersey, we’re going to make sure that voters know where the candidates stand.” said Courtney Patterson, the organization's political field director. “We’ve already had a tremendous response from supporters throughout the state – who agree that a woman’s health and rights shouldn’t depend on her zip code, and are pledging to watch, act and vote to support our allies this November.”

Christie's campaign spokesman Kevin Roberts accused the group of distorting the governor's record.

"It's sad that Barbara Buono and her allies continue to try to score political points by misleading New Jersey voters with false and negative attacks about the Governor's strong record on issues important to women," Roberts said. "The reality is that the Governor has increased funding and expanded access to vital health services that directly serve women up and down the state, and he has strengthened protections against workplace and pay discrimination. "

David Turner, spokesman for the Buono campaign, declined to comment on the organization's announcement today.